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Grilli placed on DL with oblique strain

4/15/14: Jason Grilli strikes out Billy Hamilton for the final out of the game, recording the save

By Tom Singer
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MLB.com |

ST. LOUIS -- Pirates closer Jason Grilli has a strained left oblique muscle and was placed on the 15-day disabled list on Saturday, and the club recalled Jared Hughes to take his place.

Both of those moves actually were made early Friday, prior to the series opener here against the Cardinals. However, due to a procedural error, the club had to rescind both transactions.

Grilli's disablement had been made retroactive to Monday -- when Hughes was on the active roster. In fact, Hughes pitched an inning that night and picked up a victory over the Cincinnati Reds. Hughes then was optioned back to Indianapolis on Thursday, to make room for Brandon Cumpton, who started that afternoon's game against the Reds.

Normally, optioned players can be recalled at any time when taking the roster spot of a disabled player. However, since Hughes was active the day to which Grilli's original DL status was back-dated, the move was prohibited my Major League Baseball rules.

Grilli has not pitched since serving up back-to-back ninth-inning home runs to Brewers slugger Ryan Braun on Saturday and Sunday.

"It's hard to pinpoint how or when something like this happens," Grilli said. "It doesn't matter how it happened -- it did. It's a long season, and we want to be precautionary. I'm only hurting myself if I can't be 100 percent. It's been a progressive thing. I'll try to get healthy and be accountable."

Grilli, an All-Star closer in 2013, picked up four consecutive saves from April 6-14, but he otherwise has blown three other opportunities. He had three blown saves all of last season.

Tom Singer is a reporter for MLB.com and writes an MLBlog Change for a Nickel. He can also be found on Twitter @Tom_Singer. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.